Caught?s 5-25 drives Workers to first win

LISMORE Workers left-arm paceman Jason Caught led his team to its first victory of the Far North Coast LJHooker League cricket season by claiming 5-25 against the hapless Norths-Goonellabah RSL Hawks at Oakes Oval, Lismore.

Workers' 199 was just too many for Norths-Goonellabah RSL, which limped to 151.

Caught was the dominant figure as Workers staged a remarkable victory considering they were 5-51 early in their innings the previous week.

"He was impressive," Workers captain Michael Knight said yesterday.

"Each spell he troubled the batsmen with good line and length and genuine pace."

Knight picked up top-scorer John Hampson (37) and finished with 2-20, while David Lovett took 2-19.

In a first for a few seasons, the Hawks lost opening batsman Brad Walker timed out after he failed to show.

Lennox Head also claimed their maiden 2005-06 victory with a first-innings win over Alstonville at Saunders Oval, Ballina.

Alstonville's 114 fell well short of the Lennox Head total of 164, with only Troy Cook (23) and Josh Murphy (26) offering any real resistance to the seasiders' sustained attack.

Paceman Ben Legzdins took 3-25, while Mark Denmeade picked up 2-25.

Meanwhile, Tintenbar-East Ballina could gain some measure of satisfaction by avenging their 2004-05 final loss to Southern Districts with a first- innings victory over the defending premiers at Kingsford Smith South, Ballina.

Souths made a good fist of chasing down the 'Bar's 275, but in the end were all out for 229.

Captain Duncan Elphick claimed the best figures with 4-85 from his leg-spinners, but the Tintenbar-East Ballina attack all aimed up with Luke Shay snaring 3-26 and Jason Stewart picking up 2-37.

Most of the Souths batting order contributed, but none pushed on to a big score.

Tailender Craig Bateman (43) and teenager Matt Parrish (41) gave Souths a chance of a draw, but in the end the 'Bar bowled out the defending premiers with five overs to spare.